http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/ The Madiwke Hills Weblog contains ranger reports,stories, photos & videos describing the experience at our 5 Star Luxury Lodge in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, home to the Big 5 & Wild Dogs. en-us Nucleus CMS v3.24 � Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.madikwehills.com/blog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/ http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=397
]]> Game Drives http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=397 Sun, 5 Feb 2012 11:10:34 +0200 http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=395
We would like to thank the Lister family for their 4th visit to Madikwe Hills and also Ulrike and Friedrich Supe-Blomeyer for their second visit.

]]> Game Drives http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=395 Sat, 4 Feb 2012 10:45:51 +0200 http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=393
Then this morning our drive started off with a amazing sunrise & ended with this male lion attempting to kill a zebra,he was a bit impatient and ultimately failed,still it was awesome to see the action as it unfolded

]]> Game Drives http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=393 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:38:14 +0200 http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=391
After having a cup of coffee/tea and a muffin, the game drive departs around 05:30. For the next 3 to 4 hours, I'll be trying my absolute best to fullfil the guest's wish lists. So, returning anything between 08:30 and 09:30 (sometimes later depending on how good or difficult the sightings have been), its breakfast time.

Between morning game drive and the afternoon game drive, we might get some time to relax. All dependning on how many people are checking in and out. There are those dreaded days where you have to go the the airstrip twice, and have people driving themselves that check in and out, giving you no time off. There are also those nice days that you have time free from after morning game drive till high tea in the afternoon at 16:00.

Game drive usually leave around 16:30, and will return anything between 20:00 and 20:30, sometimes later if following predators on the move (in which case I'm the chef's favourite person, NOT ;-)

Around dinner, the days happenings will be discussed, and it is the perfect oppertunity for guest and guide to get to know each other better! It is also often where lasting friendships are made between guests!!

Depending on how good the wine and company are, bedtime is sometimes well after 23:00, not leaving much time before my alarm start shouting at me at 04:00!! This will leave guides with an average working day of about 12 hours.

Next week, will have a look at, what actually happens on a game drive, from the guides perspective!

]]> General http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=391 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:51:57 +0200 http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=389






]]> Game Drives http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=389 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:18:06 +0200 http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=387 ]]> Game Drives http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=387 Mon, 9 Jan 2012 11:49:59 +0200 http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=385









On the reserve there have been many changes the past year. We unfortunately lost another two rhino’s to the global poaching threat this year and made some drastic changes to prevent this menace from entering our reserve again. In addition to our anti-poaching team we as rangers also took up the challenge by doing regular patrols at any time and providing authorities with valuable information to help and apprehend the wrong doers. We take pride in our heritage and I for one would want my children and their children to see and appreciate these wonderful animals. A couple of months ago I learned that the Sumatran Rhino officially went extinct in the wild and that is not going to be an option over here.







In the past year the lions on the reserve also experienced a big change in their lives. We documented that Ditaba and Sepedi who were our dominant lions in the eastern side of the reserve were dethroned by three young males known as the Linyalo brothers. Sepedi was the first to die when he was caught alone and off guard one night by the three marauders. Still being a big and very capable fighter the odds were against him. Three against one is not a fair fight and very few can survive an attack like that. He was still alive after the fight, but with massive injuries he silently passed away soon after. Ditaba was left alone on the reserve for the next couple of weeks but it didn’t take long for the Linyalo’s to find him. The actual fight was witnessed by some and it lasted about 4 hours during the late night. The next morning he was utterly exhausted and totally broken. About four days later he succumbed to his wounds. It’s been a sad time for us since these two boys were so much a part of our lives and they will be sorely missed by all. We all have so many fond memories of them with good times, happy times, but also some scary and anxious times. We miss their persistent roaring every morning which has now been replaced by the roaring of the new rulers of this territory. On some very still mornings, if you listen carefully, you can actually hear them roaring all the way from heaven. A new dynasty has begun in Madikwe and we are looking forward to getting to know the Linyalo brothers as they live their lives in their new and hard earned territory.







The mighty realms of the insects have been awoken in spring with warmer temperatures and good rains and now this time of the year they are all in full occupation. Insects are now more diverse and numerous than during the cold dry winter, and the diversity and numbers are increasing daily. In fact, insects are one of the most diverse classes of life on the planet. In South Africa there are over 75 000 described species (1.1 million worldwide) and on average about 30 new species are discovered every day. However many remain undiscovered. According to scientists as many as 30 million species might be out there. They are corner stone to the environment we live in and without them we would cease to exist. Insect pollinators (pollination syndromes) give food to the world, others turn and aerate soil, and they control other insect pests and recycle waste products back into usable nutrients (i.e. dung beetles) for plants and animals alike. Dung beetles are very important insects here in Africa and Madikwe. The size of the dung that large herbivores leave behind resulted in the evolution of the largest dung beetles in the world. They are responsible for recycling the massive amounts of dung produced each day by all large and small herbivores. They construct balls that are rolled away and buried beneath the ground. It is then used as food and protection for their larvae. Breeding balls as they are called can regularly be seen during the summer time. This is when the females hitch a ride on the ball of dung that the male so meticulously put together and carefully rolls away for burial. However not all species of dung beetles roll the dung away (tele-coprides). Some species roll the ball inside the dung and stay there (endo-coprides) while others roll the ball in the dung and take it directly down underground underneath the dung (para-coprides). Dung beetles play a remarkable role in agriculture. By burying and consuming dung, they improve nutrient recycling and soil structure. They also protect livestock, such as cattle, by removing the dung which, if left, could provide habitat for pests such as flies. Therefore, many countries have introduced the creature for the benefit of animal husbandry. In Australia, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) commissioned the Australian Dung Beetle Project (1965-1985) which, led by Dr. George Bornemissza, sought to introduce species of dung beetles from South Africa and Europe. The successful introduction of 23 species was made, most notably Onthophagus gazella and Euoniticellus intermedius, which have resulted in the improvement of the quality and fertility of Australian cattle pastures, along with a reduction in the population of pestilent bush flies by around 90 percent.





And so, yet again we come to the end of another year. The year 2011 has been filled with ups and downs, joy and tears, and for many people, including myself, it has changed their lives forever. This festive season is a busy one as usual here at the lodge and all the staff is working hard to make it a memorable one for each and every one. It is a time for everyone to be joyful and happy and to reflect on the year that has past. It has been a great year for the reserve, the lodge and everybody that calls this breathtaking place their home and we are all looking forward to stepping into the New Year with grandeur and enthusiasm and to face the challenges that lie ahead of us.


With kind New Years Regards
Jaco Becker (Head Ranger, BSc. Entomology; BSc. Hons. Wildlife Management)
And the Madikwe Hills Team
]]> General http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=385 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:53:41 +0200 http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=383
]]> General http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=383 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:14:40 +0200 http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=381


Photographs by Jaco. Becker]]> Game Drives http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=381 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:16:26 +0200 http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=379
They were 11 years old when they past, almost 12. They were old males and we expected them not to last much longer. Male Lions lifespan is normally about 13 years.

The Linyalo(Wedding Boys) males that came in to the territory and fought with them was not only younger and fitter but also out numbered them. They are three young and strong males. They fought with Dithaba and Sipedi when they were not together, witch also counted in their favor. Dithaba Sipedi has beaten up and killed their fare share of other male Lions when they were in their prime. But like everything, age takes it toll.

It is a sad day for us as we have built up a relationship with these beautiful animals. We have watched them suitor lots of females and father lots of cubs. It is an end of an era, but a start of an exciting new one.

R.I.P Dithaba Sipedi. We will miss your 5 o'clock wake up calls. ]]> Game Drives http://www.madikwehills.com/blog/index.php?itemid=379 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:47:23 +0200